Rostato
Guest
I know you never said bake it...that’s what klems said... it’s all good.
Clam receding
- Thread starter Rostato
- Start date
I know you never said bake it...that’s what klems said... it’s all good.
jccaclimber
Supporting Member
Given what I see here I’d say insufficient light is the likely cause.
I have one less than a foot under an XR30 right now, you aren’t going to over-light it (debate if light acclimation is needed, but in your case I vote no, this guy is getting close to the end).
You want it to be in a stable location so it doesn’t fall if it moves around a bit, but the clam doesn’t know if it’s on a ledge, an extra sturdy frag rack, or the bottom of your tank. Some may prefer sand vs a hard substrate, but that is secondary to needing light.
My vote is to move it to the highest light area of your tank that you can. If for some reason you have a spot with a PAR value in the 600+ range we can debate baby steps, but given what I know so far this seems less likely.
You may have to move a coral or rock to make space, but the coral will survive at 120 PAR for a while until you figure things out. This guy probably won’t.
P.S. That’s some impressive coralline growth on the shell. Does the mantle normally extend past that point?
I have one less than a foot under an XR30 right now, you aren’t going to over-light it (debate if light acclimation is needed, but in your case I vote no, this guy is getting close to the end).
You want it to be in a stable location so it doesn’t fall if it moves around a bit, but the clam doesn’t know if it’s on a ledge, an extra sturdy frag rack, or the bottom of your tank. Some may prefer sand vs a hard substrate, but that is secondary to needing light.
My vote is to move it to the highest light area of your tank that you can. If for some reason you have a spot with a PAR value in the 600+ range we can debate baby steps, but given what I know so far this seems less likely.
You may have to move a coral or rock to make space, but the coral will survive at 120 PAR for a while until you figure things out. This guy probably won’t.
P.S. That’s some impressive coralline growth on the shell. Does the mantle normally extend past that point?
If it doesn’t react to you, doesn’t open, and isn’t attached anymore, it’s likely a goner.
Not enough light is probably the most common problem with clams. We usually keep them on the sand but they like SPS level PAR. It’s tough In my experience.
Also I’ve read about (and experienced) clams from Live Aquaria and some other major importers doing ok initially and then dying for unclear reasons. Where is it from?
Not enough light is probably the most common problem with clams. We usually keep them on the sand but they like SPS level PAR. It’s tough In my experience.
Also I’ve read about (and experienced) clams from Live Aquaria and some other major importers doing ok initially and then dying for unclear reasons. Where is it from?
Rostato
Guest
Yes it was normally extended well beyond that area. Here is a pic from a couple months ago[emoji22]
Sad to hear. It was a beauty. Clams can be heartbreakers.
Not completely true. Bottom is species specific I believe. Maxima's attach to rock and do very well low to mid in the tank. The reason you usually see them on the bottom is people are lazy, and it's easier to place one there.
All of mine are on rocks a little higher up. I've had them as high as halfway up the tank on rock. Maxima's will attach to the bottom of the tank, but that's not their preference and don't do as well that way at times. Put it on a rock a third of the way up. If you have to grab some reef putty and make a clam cradle for a week or so, or just buy a clam cradle.
ofzakaria
Guest
"They are most common found in shallow lagoons and reef flats, and are typically embedded in sandy substrates or those composed of coral rubble."
animaldiversity.org
"giant clams live on shallow reef flats down to depths of around 66 feet (20 m). "
www.montereybayaquarium.org
"Found living on the surface of reefs or sand, or partly embedded in coral, the small giant clam occupies well-lit areas, due to its symbiotic relationship with photosynthetic algae"
en.m.wikipedia.org
So to summarise the documented natural habitat of giant clam wrt placment
- They live in shallow waters and lagoon reefs
- They like high light, hence they live in shallow and coral reef
Personally I think for home aquariums bottom placment is better for long term success ,IF, you have enough light.
I have a clam that been in my systems for 10 years and bit smaller than basketball size. It used to be 1/3 size when I got it 10 years ago. I also have 2nd one for 3 years just as healthy... They both on bottom in the same, happy and content.
If you have rock structure to support it go for it, it's just not easy finding such support structure in aquariums...at least mine.
My clam triple in size and if I have "glued" it to a rock or put putty on it to force it to be somewhere on the rock it would have died for sure by now..
My 2 cents
Tridacna gigas
"giant clams live on shallow reef flats down to depths of around 66 feet (20 m). "
Giant clam, Coral Reefs, Invertebrates, Tridacna sp at the Monterey Bay Aquarium
www.montereybayaquarium.org
"Found living on the surface of reefs or sand, or partly embedded in coral, the small giant clam occupies well-lit areas, due to its symbiotic relationship with photosynthetic algae"
Maxima clam - Wikipedia
So to summarise the documented natural habitat of giant clam wrt placment
- They live in shallow waters and lagoon reefs
- They like high light, hence they live in shallow and coral reef
Personally I think for home aquariums bottom placment is better for long term success ,IF, you have enough light.
I have a clam that been in my systems for 10 years and bit smaller than basketball size. It used to be 1/3 size when I got it 10 years ago. I also have 2nd one for 3 years just as healthy... They both on bottom in the same, happy and content.
If you have rock structure to support it go for it, it's just not easy finding such support structure in aquariums...at least mine.
My clam triple in size and if I have "glued" it to a rock or put putty on it to force it to be somewhere on the rock it would have died for sure by now..
My 2 cents
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ofzakaria
Guest
"Again, I also wouldn’t put a crocea or maxima directly on sand or gravel, unless it’s only temporary. No, they won’t drop dead if you put them on sand/gravel, but it’s totally unnatural for a crocea, and as I said above, it’s not what you’ll find too many maximas on either. "
www.tfhmagazine.com
Tropical Fish Article Library | TFH Magazine
www.tfhmagazine.com
So sorry.